The mystery caller who offered Else an England contract

Steph Else made her Premiership Women's Rugby debut as an 18-year-old against Exeter Chiefs

When an unknown number rings, do you pick up?

Gloucester-Hartpury forward Steph Else, like many, tended to ignore them - but this time something felt different.

In May, while in the changing room before a final training session for England Under-20s' game against Wales, her phone started to buzz.

Having been named captain for the game, the 20-year-old's full focus was on preparation - but the intrigue about the random caller was too much.

When Else answered and heard a New Zealand accent say, "Hello Steph, it's John Mitchell," her gut instinct to pick up proved right - the England head coach had something to ask her.

"I was struggling to talk after [the call] as I was flustered," Else told BBC Sport.

"He [Mitchell] just said that they've been watching me and wanted to offer me a transition contract.

"I really struggled to get through the team run as I just wanted to tell my parents!"

Transition contracts offer early support in the journey to becoming a professional rugby player for England and include financial backing, nutritional advice and extra coaching.

The Red Roses have benefited in recent years from Under-20s stars progressing quickly into the senior set-up.

England flanker Maisy Allen was awarded a transition contract in 2023, making her senior debut that same year after being involved with the Under-20s.

Such contracts are not high-earning, meaning Else will continue coaching at the Gloucester Rugby Foundation - something she wanted to keep doing anyway, even if you could live off just a transition contract.

"Rather than the money being the main thing from the contract, it is the thing that comes with the contract," she said.

"It'll help me go into camp more easily when I get the chance."

Else, who plays either in the back row or second row, was one of eight new players to receive a transition contract this summer.

The 20-year-old had a breakthrough season with Premiership Women's Rugby champions Gloucester-Hartpury and came off the bench in the Premiership final victory over Bristol Bears.

Added to her strong domestic form, Else spent time in the England camp during this year's Six Nations.

"I loved every minute of it. It's a lot but a step up that I would never say no to," Else recalled.

The immediate focus for Else is on this week's inaugural U6N Women's Summer Series in Parma, Italy, which starts on Thursday against Ireland.

That is followed by a game with Wales before a difficult final fixture against France, who hammered England 74-0 in April.

"We had a hard test against France a few months ago and it did us the world of good, we needed that," she added.

"I'll be pushing towards 2025. It is about taking the little steps at a time. If I am ready for the World Cup I am ready, if not we will just keep pushing and hopefully one day I can be capped."

England's Summer Series fixtures

Kick-off times all BST with all three games played at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

Thursday, 4 July - England v Ireland (17:30)

Tuesday, 9 July - England v Wales (20:00)

Sunday, 14 July - England v France (20:00)